Common questions about minoxidil and cost

Here are some common questions about minoxidil and their answers.

Do the over-the-counter forms of minoxidil cost less than the prescription form of the drug?

Possibly. Over-the-counter (OTC) versions of topical minoxidil (Rogaine) are used for hair regrowth for certain types of hair loss. It’s not used to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s used to treat high blood pressure in certain cases.

The cost of prescription minoxidil tablet compared to OTC topical versions of minoxidil for hair regrowth depends on various factors. For example, the cost of prescription minoxidil oral tablet may be less expensive if you have insurance coverage compared to OTC topical minoxidil, which is not typically covered by insurance.

Other factors that can affect the cost of each form include:

your treatment plan
the days’ supply of the medication (30-day versus 90-day)
the pharmacy you choose

To learn more about how the costs for different versions of minoxidil compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.